System for preparing casing stuffed products



April 6, 1965 E. SCHMOOK, JR 3,176,341

SYSTEM FOR PREPARING CASING STUFFED PRODUCTS Original Filed Aug. 29, 1960 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent 0 3,176,341 SYSTEM FGR PRE. Allll'NG CASHNG STUFFED PRODUCTS Edward Schmuck, in, Madison, Wis, assi nor to Uscar Mayer & (Iompany, inc, (Ihicago, lll.

Original application Aug. 29, 196i Ser. No. 52,428, new Patent No. 3,17,392, dated Get. 22, 1963. Divided and this application Nov. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 245,341

2 Claims. (@l. 17-35) The present invention relates to a new and improved system and apparatus for preparing casing stuffed meat products, such as wieners, bologna, etc. More specifically, the invention is directed to apparatus for forming deaerated casing stuffed food products and particularly adapted for continuous operation in at least substantially an automatic manner.

Procedures followed in the commercial production of stuffed meat products, such as wieners, bologna and the like, have been practiced for many years with relatively few basic modifications or innovations being made thereto. The batter formulation, comminutio-n and easing stufi'lng procedures have been batchwise operations each requiring a substantial amount of at least semi-skilled labor. Batchwise handling of meat batter is undesirable not only from the time-cost aspects thereof, but is also deleterious to the appearance and condition of the meat product itself. Preparation and conditioning of the meat batter in the presence of air tends to create volumetric non-uniformity as Well as oxidative discoloration of the meat. The occlusion of air in the batter creates pockets or voids therein which may well be retained during the casing stutling operation and thus be present in the final product. This promotes volumetric and weight nonuniformity in the stuffed product and the occluded oxygen-bearing air will act to cause meat discoloration and other undesirable results.

Attempts have been made to reduce the effects of the foregoing disadvantages of batchwise meat preparation and stuffing operations. Meat batter has been prepared under vacuumization conditions or in the presence of an inert gas such as nitrogen. The use of an atmosphere of inert gas does not eliminate the volumetric and weight non-uniformity problem and the advantageous effects of vacuumization have largely been destroyed due to the I necessity of continued batchwise handling of the batter following vacuumization preparation thereof. The stuffing operation is non-continuous, as with the use of conventional stuffing horns receiving a casing thereabout it is necessary to discontinue stulfing during casing replacement. Thus the batchwise operational aspects of stuf ing results in an accumulation of meat batter which is often meat batter for stufling thereof, the system comprising the combination of specially adapted batter handling means which cooperatively function to establish and maintain vacuumization conditions in the batter while accommodating continuous or batchwise stufling operations thereof.

Other objects not specifically set forth will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention made in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which diagrammatically illustrates a preferred form of batter preparation and handling system of the I invention.

In first considering the basic aspects of o eration of the system of the present invention, this operation in the forming of deaerated casing stuffed food products involves the comminution of coarse food material under vacuumization conditions during which occluded air is removed from the material as the particles thereof are subdivided. The comminuted material is delivered in the absence of air and preferably while still subject to the vacuumization conditions of the comminution step into a material accumulation zone which may preferably be in the form of a hopper-type means and which is open to the atmosphere for material observation and ready cleaning thereof. The introduction of the material into the accumulation means occurs below the surface of material previously accumulated therein and which is exposed to the atmosphere. This aspect of the invention involves the principle of submerged feeding as will be described in greater detail. The accumulated material is withdrawn from the accumulation means at a point well below the exposed surface of the material therein such that the Withdrawn material is still in a completely vacuumized state. The Withdrawn material is then directly stuffed into casings while being protected from aeration.

The system of the present invention, an embodiment of which is diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawing, is designed for preparing and continuously supplying deaerated food material for stuihng thereof. The system includes among other things a continuously operating cornminution means receiving a food or meat preparation therein. The comminution means is sealed from the atmosphere and includes vacuumization means in communication therewith to deaerate the meat preparation undergoing comminution. The discharge of the comminution means is connected to delivery means which continuously delivers comminuted meat preparation to a batch-type hopper. The delivery means is completely sealed from the atmosphere and is in communication with the interior of the hopper (which is open to the atmosphere) at a point below the surface of meat preparation already accumulated therein. Thus meat preparation is continuously delivered into the batchtype hopper means utilizing the principle of submerged feeding to protect the meat preparation from aeration during accumulation or what might otherwise be referred to as storage thereof. Additional delivery means closed to the atmosphere is in communication with the hopper means to deliver meat preparation therefrom to a stufler for continuous or periodic casing stuiiing thereof. The further delivery means is maintained in communication with the hopper means at a point below the surface of meat preparation accumulated therein to take advantage of the air seal established by the meat preparation itself in the hopper means.

The accompanying drawing is a partly sectioned diagrammatic illustration of a preferred system incorporating the principles of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, a description of an embodiment of the system of the present invention will provide for a better understanding of the basic principles of the invention. The system illustrated includes a conveyor 1 3 which may be of any suitable type such as an endless belt 11 extending over a pair of rollers 12, one of which is driven. The conveyor it? receives thereon coarse pieces or chunks of meat to be used in batter preparation as well as any additional ingredients such as condiments and the like. The conveyor may preferably be a scale conveyor of known type by means of which formulation of batches of meat preparation can be continuously made. In other words, the various ingredients in batchwise measured amounts may be deposited on the belt 11 during continuous movement thereof.

Each batch otbatter ingredients is continuously delivered by the conveyor 'lti'into a coarse chop means in the form of a silent cutter .13 in which the meatchunks are chopped'and the ingredients are thoroughly mixed. The silent "cutter 13 is' of known type=andincludes an unloader 14 used in the usual manner in removing coarsely chopped batter fronrthe'cutter '13,

The coarsely chopped meat preparation is delivered from the silent cutter13 by means of the unloader 14 into a first hopper means constituting a feed hopper 15 of any suitable design. The hopper 15 as shown in the I 4 17, pump 18, and line 25. Thus during operation of the system the delivery lines and feed pump are full of meat preparation at all times.

The comminuted and deaerated meat preparation, now in completed batter form, iscontinuously delivered from the comminution zone 26 of the chopper 27 into a batter V discharge zone 35 forming a part of the chopper 2.7. As

drawing may be suitably associated with the. silent cutter 13by means-of a bridging plate, 16 which extends over adjacent edge portions oftthe units and over which the a meat preparation is delivered'from the cutter 13 to'the hopper 15 by the unloader 14. The hopper 15 is open at the top .and it will be understood that the meat preparation is subject to atmospheric conditions and has air occluded therein, f

Coarsely choppedmeat preparation is accumulated in the hopper 15 to a rather substantial extent to vprovide an adequate source for continuousoperation of the commie nution means'forming a part of the system. .Suitably connected to the hopper adjacent the bottom thereof is a meatpreparation discharge pipe 17 through which meat preparation is removed from the hopper 15 by means of a pump .18. The pump 18 is diagrammatically illustrated and as shown includes a drive shaft19having a pulley disclosed in my, aforementioned application, the'discharge zone 35 is in the form of a rotating bowl which rotates with the knifeassembly of the comminution zone'26 with the result that batter delivered thereinto is accumulated by'centrifugal 'force along'the-inner surface of the bowl. A'stationary pick-up discharge'tube '(not shown) is received within the bowl and scoops out batter therefrom for continuous discharge through line 36 from the chopper 27. High speed rotation of the accumulated batter in the rotating bowl of the zone 35 of the chopper pro- .vides adequate discharge forcewhereby the-batter is continuously mo'ved throughflthe line 36 into a submerged feeding hopper-type unit 37.

Comminuted batter'is continuously delivered into the hopper unit 37' from theline 56 through a standpipe por- 20 attached thereto. and driven by a belt'..21 operated by a pulley 22 attached to the'drive shaft 23 of a suitablemotor or power source 24. Preferably, the-pump 18 will be in the form of a Moyno pump of well known type which applies to the meat preparation .a progressing cavity type action to impart motion thereto for delivery purposes withoutdestructive action on the meat particles of the preparation. o

v A line 25- delivers meat preparation from the pump 18 inthe direction of the arrowsassociated therewith into the'comminution zone 26 of a continuous chopper generally designated. by the numeral 2 7. The chopper 27 is preferably of the type disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No..27,-l05, filed May 5, 1960, now Patent", No. 3,095,022. A chopper of this type'isdesigned for the continuous;comminutiont of meat being-delivered thereinto in a steady stream, the comminution' occurring as a result of highispeed rotation 'ofa knife-assembly with thecombined action of centrifugal force and gravity forming. a continuous downwardly moving relatively thin sleeve of accumulated meat along'the inner surface of the barrel ofthe-comminution-zone 26., During commi- 'nution the meat preparation is subjected to vacuumizastuifing thereof in casings. hopper 37 also receives therein a plurality. o-fldischarge tion 38'which projects upwardly into the'center of the hopper -37 throughthe bottom'plate 39' thereof. As indicated by the arrows associated with the upper end of thev standpipe portion 38, comminuted batter spills over into thehopper 37 and accumulates-therein preferably to the: extent indicated by thediagrammatic showing of-batterin therdrawing. .When the system is initially placed in operation, cornminuted batteris permitted to accumulate in the h'opperf37 until the standpipe portion 38 .is

completely sealedh ofr" from'the atmosphere, Although the, hopper 37 is open to the atmosphere at the top there- 'of,, onlythe top surface portion '40..of the accumulated lines'41 and .42. These lines individually deliver batter tostuifing horns which are of known-type and which are operated in the known manner. Any' number of discharge lines maybe usedgwith a single stufiing'hopper tion conditions established by vacuurnization of the chop- V by a shafti29extending upwardly from the top, of the chopper 27 and to whicha drive pulley 30 is attached and driven by a belt 31. The belt 31 is driven by a pulley 32 attached to the drive shaft-33 0f a suitable motor or 7 per assembly 27'awith air being withdrawn therefrom a through alineZ S-in the direction of the arrow associated therewith" by-means of a'suitable vacuum pu'rnp or the like (not shown).- a The rotating knife assembly of 'the chopper 27 is driven unit and the operationaluseof only one line 41 is diagrammatically illustrated in the drawing, it being understood that the line 42 is connected with similar equipment fume in the same manner. I

The discharge line 41 communicates withv a suitablefeed pump 43 (preferably of the Moyno type) which is driven by a shaft 44 hayinga drivepulley 45 connected thereto. ,A v.drive belti'46 engages the-pulley '45 and is driven by a pulley v47 attached to the drive'shaft 4Sof a suitable motor or power source;49. .Batter is movedby 1 the pump 43' from the hopper37 through a line 50 in the direction of the arrows associated therewith andinto a stufiing horn 51 of.knowntype.. The stufiing horn nor- Y .mally has receivedjthereabout an empty casing (not powersource 34. "Obviously, any suitable drive means ,7

may be lutilized and the'particular means "illustrated is merely indicativeeof the type of operation obtained. i

p The forming of the thin sleeveot meat during com p minution thereofas described above materially enhances 1 adequate or comp ete dea 'a 0f the p a ie per 37. The 'introduction of-the batter, into the hopper remove deleterious oxygenbearing air which is occluded therein as a result of earlier handling and preparation of the. ingredients. A 'vacuum seal in the chopper; is maintained at the meat preparation delivery end by reason' of the maintenance or an accumulation of 'meat prepara tion in the hopper '15 andthe continuous delivery of meat preparation therefrom to the-chopper' 27 through the lineshown) into whichthe batter forced with the.casing being 'filled, subsequently subdivided into links and tied fi." V P As previously described, the, comminuted batter is continuous'ly delivered'through .1ihe'36 intolthe stufiing hopmakes use of submerged feeding,once' the system is in full'operation. By this it is meant that the deaerated batter is protected against aeration during. accumulation in the hopper 37 by'being introduced thereinto below'the top surface portion 40: of material'previously accumulated therein." mans manner the' batter is sealed against aerathrough the line 41, pump 43 and line 50 does not result in aeration and the batter is completely uniform from the standpoint of weight and volume and is in good condition with regard to color, etc. when the same is forced into a casing through the stuffing horn 51. Preferably, the batter is delivered into the hopper 37 below the top surface portion 40 of the batter accumulated therein and well above the bottom of the hopper with the batter being withdrawn from the hopper 37 at points below the point of delivery thereof into the hopper 37 to meet first infirst out requirements. The substantial amount of batter accumulated in the hopper 37 forms a complete air seal relative to the various parts of the system in communication with the hopper. Thus the batter actually being used for easing stuffing is completely protected against aeration following deaeration thereof during comminution. The basic structural features of the stuifing hopper unit 37 diagrammatically illustrated in the drawing constitute a separate invention specifically covered in a co-pending application.

From the foregoing description of the system of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the system is operable in a continuous manner with the material handled thereby being automatically vacuumized and protected against aeration. The system is designed to accommodate periodic operation of any number of stuffing horns forming a part thereof as it will be understood that individual st-uffiing horns must be closed periodically for easing replacement. Thus the system permits continuous operation of the chopper 27 for full utilization of the advantages of such operation with accompanying deaeration and protection against subsequent aeration. The stufiing hopper 37 is open at the top to meet specified periodic cleaning requirements.

As an example of advantages obtained by use of the system of the present invention, a single chopper 27 may continuously and automatically supply a rather substantial number of stuffing horns through the use of a single stufiing hopper unit 37. The chopper is capable of producing emulsified Wiener or bologna batter at a flow rate up to 150 lbs. per minute. Preferably, the vacuum applied in the chopper is maintained at or above 25 inches of mercury.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 52,428, filed August 29, 1960, now Patent No. 3,107,392.

Obviously certain modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A system for preparing and continuously supplying deaerated Wiener-type batter for stuffing thereof, said system comprising meat preparation supply means, continuously operating comminution means receiving meat preparation from said supply means, said comminution means being sealed from the atmosphere, vacuurnization means in communication with said comminution means to deaerate the meat preparation in its comminuted state, means to deliver comminuted meat preparation from said comminution means, storage hopper means in communication with said delivery means, said hopper means being opened at the top to the atmosphere for ready interior observance and access thereinto, said delivery means being sealed from the atmosphere and in communication with the interior of said hopper means above the bottom thereof but below the open top thereof to be completely covered and sealed from the atmosphere by meat preparation accumulated therein, and further delivery means connected to said hopper means and to stuifing means to deliver meat preparation for easing stuffing thereof, said further delivery means being in communication with the interior of said hopper means below the open top thereof to be completely covered and sealed from the atmosphere by meat preparation accumulated therein.

2. A system for preparing and continuously supplying deaerated Wiener-type batter for stufiing thereof, said system comprising batch preparation means for mixing and coarsely chopping meat batter ingredients, first hopper means receiving and accumulating batches from said batch preparation means, continuously operating comminution means receiving meat preparation from said first hopper means, said comminution means being sealed fom the atmosphere and including vacuumization means in communication therewith to deaerate meat preparation undergoing comminution therein, comminuted meat preparation delivery means connected to said comminution means and in communication with further hopper means, said further hopper means being open at the top to the atmosphere for ready interior observance and access thereinto, said delivery means being sealed from the atmosphere and in communication with the interior of said further hopper means above the bottom thereof but below the open top thereof to be completely covered and sealed from the atmosphere by meat preparation accumulated therein, and further delivery means connected to said further hopper means and to stuffing means to deliver meat preparation for casing stuffing thereof, said further delivery means being sealed from the atmosphere and in communication with the interior of said further hopper means below the point of heat preparation delivery thereinto by said first mentioned delivery means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,977,629 4/61 Grebe 17-39 3,042,964 7/62 Rosenthaler 17---35 3,081,484 3/63 Schnell 17-35 SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

LUCIE H. LAUDENSLAGER, Examiner. 

1. A SYSTEM FOR PREPARING AND CONTINUOUSLY SUPPLYING DEAERATED WIENER-TYPE BATTER FOR STUFFING THEREOF, SAID SYSTEM COMPRISING MEAT PREPARATION SUPPLY MEANS, CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING COMMINUTION MEANS RECEIVING MEAT PREPARATION FROM SAID SUPPLY MEANS, SAID COMMUNICATION MEANS BEING SEALED FROM THE ATMOSPHERE, VACUUMIZATION MEANS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID COMMINUTION MEANS TO DEAERATE THE MEAT PREPARATION IN ITS COMMINUTED STATE, MEANS TO DELIVERY COMMINUTED MEAT PREPARATION FROM SAID COMMINUTION MEANS, STORAGE HOPPER MEANS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID DELIVERY MEANS, SAID HOPPER MEANS BEING OPENED AT THE TOP OF THE ATMOSPHERE FOR READY INTERIOR OBSERVANCE AND ACCESS THEREINTO, SAID DELIVERY MEANS BEING SEALED FROM THE ATMOSPHERE AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOPPER MEANS ABOVE THE BOTTOM THEREOF BUT BELOW THE OPEN TOP THEREOF TO BE COMPLETELY COVERED AND SEALTED FROM THE ATMOSPHERE BY MEAT PREPARATION ACCUMULATED THEREIN, AND FURTHER DELIVERY MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID HOPPER MEANS FOR CASING STUFFING THEREOF, SAID DELIVERY MEAT PREPARATION FOR CASING STUFFING THEREOF, SAID FURTHER DELIVERY MEANS BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOPPER MEANS BELOW THE OPEN TOP THEREOF TO BE COMPLETELY COVERED AND SEALED FROM THE ATMOSPHERE BY MEAT PREPARATION ACCUMULATED THEREIN. 